Transforming Growth Factor‐β (TGF‐β) and Programmed Cell Death in the Vertebrate Retina

摘要: Programmed cell death (PCD) is a precisely regulated phenomenon essential for the homeostasis of multicellular organisms. Developmental systems, particularly nervous system, have provided key observations supporting physiological role PCD. We recently shown that transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β) plays an important in mediating ontogenetic PCD system. As part central system developing retina serves as ideal model investigating apoptotic processes during neurogenesis vivo it easily accessible experimentally and less complex due to its limited number different neurons. This review summarizes data indicating pivotal TGF‐β vertebrate retina. The following topics are discussed: expression isoforms receptors retina, signaling pathway, functions molecular mechanisms TGF‐β‐mediated retinal apoptosis vitro vivo, interactions with other pro‐ antiapoptotic factors.